November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
11:44
How To Preserve Artworks In A Microbial World
Fungus, bacteria, and lichens can live on (and damage) pieces of art.
34:16
The Best Science Books Of 2018
Ira and a panel of guests round up their favorite science books from 2018
Raccoons: Tricky Trash Pandas Or Misunderstood Masterminds?
Raccoons are highly successful critters, even in the face of a changing environment.
7:19
InSight Settles In On Mars
After celebrating earlier this week, the robotic lander Mars InSight gets ready to research.
4:38
Conflict Is Blowin’ In The Wind
“Wake effects” from one wind farm can affect the performance of another—even miles away.
8:51
Calling All Science Educators!
It’s your chance to team up with SciFri to develop resources for science learners everywhere.
19:45
The First CRISPR-Edited Babies Are (Probably) Here. Now What?
The news raises social, ethical, and regulatory questions—for both scientists and society.
9:37
The Asymmetrical Self
Why are human bodies asymmetrical? A single protein could help explain why.
16:41
How Whales Got Their Mouth Bristles
Did whales go through a phase where they sucked up their food like vacuums before they evolved baleen?
25:31
Where Will Climate Change Impact The US? Everywhere.
A new report says our warming world will hit all sectors of the U.S. economy, in ways both big and small.
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44:18
A Salute To Head-Scratching Science
As a SciFri holiday tradition, we present highlights from the 28th first annual Ig Nobel Awards ceremony.
12:27
The Ancient Climate Clues In Caves
Paleoclimatologist Bogdan Onac has spent his life spelunking for data about Earth’s past climate.
17:36
Bones Better Than Diamonds
Meet archaeologists who hunt for animal bones and oyster shells to piece together human stories. Plus, the tale of the domestic turkey.
17:42
Uncovering Artifacts And Archaeological Finds With Lasers
Archaeologist Lori Collins uses lasers to map and preserve artifacts to create a 3D collection.
Got Your Cat Tongue?
Think you know everything about your cat? Take a closer look at their tongues.
How Do We Read Differently With Screens?
Author Maryanne Wolf writes that reading-brain circuits are shaped by environmental factors. What does that mean in the digital age?
6:44
Beneath The Ice, A Massive Crater
Researchers have found evidence for an ancient collision with a 1 km-wide meteorite.
5:26
Can California Use More Planned Burns To Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires?
Last spring, Governor Jerry Brown doubled the amount of land that would be managed by prescribed burns and other forest management strategies to prevent wildfires.
17:36
To Fight Wildfires, Look To The City
Implementing urban fire codes in rural areas might help save lives.